Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, July
11, 1899.
No. 230.]Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copies of correspondence between this legation and Consul Fowler
concerning the refusal to issue passports or travel certificates to
women known to be plying their lewd vocation, and who in fact desire
them for protection in such practice.
I hope my action will meet with the Department’s approval.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Fowler to
Mr. Conger.
United States Consulate,
Chefoo, June 28,
1899.
No. 188.]Sir: Within the past few days I have
received letters from two women in Port Arthur requesting me to send
them passports. I wrote to them that in order to secure a passport
the applicant must appear in person. The writers stated that they
were “Tourists, stay in Port Arthur indefinite.”
On inquiring, I learned that they are two disreputable persons, and
required the passports in order to be able to continue their mode of
living in Port Arthur.
As it is probable that they will be compelled to get passports, I
wish to know if you will authorize me to refuse them, or other like
characters, when applying for passports for such purposes.
Ordinarily I could forward their applications to you, with a letter
explaining matters, but when parties apply for passports for Port
Arthur they do so in order, not to obtain a legation passport, but
the travel certificate, and parties who apply for legation passports
are entitled to the certificates if they want it, to be returned
should the legation refuse its passport; but by that time the party
has probably returned or left Port Arthur and no longer desires any
passport.
As the parties referred to are lawbreakers, they are not entitled to
passports in my opinion.
I have, etc.,
[Page 186]
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Conger to
Mr. Fowler.
Legation of the United States of America,
Pekin, China, July 3, 1899.
No. 373.]Sir: I have received your dispatch No. 188
of June 28, reporting a request for passports from Port Arthur by
two disreputable women, who required the passports in order to be
able to continue to ply their vocation at that place, and inquiring
if I will authorize you to refuse them and other like characters
when applying for passports for such purposes.
As a general rule, it would hardly do to make moral character a basis
for the issuance of passports, yet, in these Eastern countries,
where certificates of citizenship stand for so much, I shall not
furnish passports to parties who are known to be of the class and
plying the vocation you name.
When, therefore, there is no question whatever to the facts, you may
refuse to forward applications, and consequently to give travel
certificates.
I am, etc.,
